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Message  of  the 
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HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  November  21,  1864— Laid 
on  the  table  and  ordered  to  be  printed. 

[By  the  Chair.] 


MESSAGE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT. 

Richmond,  Va.,  Nov.  21,  1864. 
To  the  House  of  Representatives  : 

In  response  to  your  resolution  of  the  8th  instant,  I  herewith  trans- 
mit a  communication  from  the  Secretary  of  War  which  conveys  the 
information  requested,  relative  to  the  act  of  June  14,  1864,  "  to  pro- 
vide and  organize  a  general  staff." 

The  seventh  section  of  the  act  invests  the  Executive  with  the  dis- 
cretion which  has  been  exercised.  The  eighth  section,  by  restricting 
appointments,  indicates  the  course  which  has  been  pursued,  in  the  at- 
tempt to  ascertain,  with  accuracy,  the  number  of  officers  in  the  several 
staff*  corps,  so  as  to  distribute  them  in  accordance  with  the  order  from 
the  Adjutant  General's  office,  a  copy  of  which  is  annexed,  as  well  as 
to  ascertain  whether  there  are  not  supernumerary  staff"  officers  liow  in 
commission  who  should  be  discharged. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 


•COMMUNICATION  FROM  SECRETARY  OF  WAR. 

War  Department,  C.  S.  A.,  ) 

Richmond,  l^ov.  17,  1864.  \ 

To  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States  : 

Sir  :  I  have  received  a  copy  of  the  followiag  reaolutioa.  a.lopted 
l)j  the  House  of  Ilep^esen^1tives  on  the  8th  instant,  and  referred  bjr 
}our  Excellency  to  this  Department. 

"  licsnlved,  That  the  President  be  respectfully  requested  to  inform 
the  House,  ■whether  any  appointments  have  been  mads  under  the  act 
entitled  '  An  act  to  provide  and  organize  a  general  staff  for  the 
armies  in  the  field  to  serve  during  the  vrar,'  approved  June  14,  1864, 
and  if  not,  why  have  not  such  appointments  been  made  in  pursuance 
of  said  act."  • 

In  response,  I  have  the  honor  to  enclose  herewith  a  letter  from  the 
Adjutant  General,  reporting  that  no  appointments  have  been  made 
under  the  act  referred  to.  In  addition  to  the  explanition  afforded  by 
that  report,  showing  the  discretion  vested  in  you  by  the  act,  and  the 
adequacy  of  previous  regulations  to  meet  the  aecossity  of  a  staff  or- 
ganization, it  may  not  be  improper  to  advert  to  the  fact  that,  soon 
after  the  adjournment  of  Congress,  your  attention  was  called,  by  the 
chairman  of  the  Military  Committee  of  the  Senate,  to  the  serious  in- 
conveniences which  might  result  from  theYjromotion  of  certain  officers 
of  the  staff,  contemplated  by  that  act,  and  the  suggestion  made  that, 
in  regard  to  them  at  least,  it  might  be  better  not  to  enforce  the  lavr, 
as  additional  legislation  would  probably  be  attemptel  at  the  next  ses- 
sion. This  circumstance,  it  is  believed,  contributed  to  guide  the  dis- 
creticn  exercised  under  the  act,  in  not  enforcing  the  same,  as  incon- 
veniences would  naturally  have  resulted  from  giving  the  rank  contem- 
plated to  some  portion  of  the  staff,  and  withholding  it  from  others. 

Very  respectfully, 

JAMES  A.  SEDDON, 

Secretary  of  War, 


LETTER  FROM  THE  ADJUTANT  GENERAL. 

Adjutant  and  Inspector  General's  Office.  > 
Ricdmond^  Fa.,  Nov.  15,  1864.      > 

Hon.  James  A.  Seddcn,  Secretary  of  War : 

Sir  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  communicatioiv 
from  his  Excellency,  the  President,  referred  to  me  for  report,  contain- 
ing copy  of  a  resolution  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  dated  the 
8th  instant,  and  in  these  words  : 

"  Resolved,  That  the  President  be  respectfully  requested  to  inform 
this  House  whether  .any  appointments  have  been  made  under  the  act 
entitled,  '  An  act  to  provide  and  organize  a  general  staff  for  the  armies 
in  the  field  to  serve  during  the  war,'  approved,  llth  Juno,  18G4,  and 
if  not,  why  have  not  such  appointments  been  made  in  pursuance  of 
said  act." 

In  accordance  with  your  instructions,  I  have  the  honor  to  reposl: 
that  no  appointments  have  been  made  under  the  act  above  recited. 

The  seventh  section  of  the  act  is  in  these  words: 

"  The  President  is  hereby  authorized  to  reduce  the  number  of  offi- 
cers authorised  by  this  act,  to  the  staff  of  any  general  ofSccr,  or  to 
increase  the  same  when,  in  his  opinion,  the  service  will  be  benefitted 
thereby." 

On  the  29th  April,  186  4,  prior  to  the  passage  of  the  act,  the  Presi- 
dent caused  to  bo  issued  from  this  office,  "  General  Orders  No.  44,'" 
(a  copy  of  which  is  enclosed,)  prescribing  the  number  of  stall  ofncers, 
not  to  exceed  certain  grades,  which  he  deemed  necessary  to  the  several 
commands  in  the  field.  These  orders  have  not  been  revoked,  the 
President  having,  I  presume,  availed  himself  of  the  authority  con- 
ferred in  the  seventh  section  of  the  act,  not  to  increase  the  number 
and  rank  of  staff  offxers  beyond  the  provisions  of  the  orders.  To 
carry  out  these  orders,  the  legislation  prior  to  the  act  of  the  14th 
June,  is  sufScient. 

Permit  me  to  add,  that  I  have  heard  no  complaint  from  any  quarter 
that  the  number  and  rank- of  the  staff  officers,  provided  for  by  general 
orders,  are  not  sufficient  for  all  the  purposes  of  commands  iu  the  field. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  COOPER, 
Adjutant  and  Inspector  General. 


MR.  SPARROW  TO  THE  PRESIDENT. 

Richmond,  June  15,  1864. 
His  Excellency,  The  President  : 

Dear  Sir  :  In  considering  the  recent  acts  of  Congress,  in  regard  to 
the  Quartermaster  and  Comniissary  Departments  and  the  General 
Staff  Bill,  I  think  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  it  was  not  provided  in 
both  these  measures  that  the  President  might,  if  he  thought  proper, 
make  all  appointments  above  the  rank  of  major  with  temporary  rank 
only. 

The  appointment  of  quartermasters  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  will, 
as  the  Department  is  now  organized,  cause  them  to  rank  every  officer 
in  the  Department,  except  one  or  two.  In  the  Commissary's  Depart- 
ment they  will  rank  all  but  one.  This  should  be  avoided,  if  possible, 
as  it  would  be  a  great  injustice  to  many  valuably  and  meritorious 
oficers. 

I  think  we  can  remedy  it  at  the  next  session  of  Congress,  and  I 
take  the  liberty  of  recommending  that  these  appointments  may  be 
delayed  until  this  fault  in  these  measures  can  be  corrected. 

As  you  are  authorized  to  assign  officers  to  these  positions,  I  cannot 
see  that  the  public  interest  can  suffer  by  adopting  this  course. 
Very  respectfully,  your  friend, 

EDWARD  SPARROW. 

Adjutant  and  Inspector  General's  Office, 
Appointment  Bureau,  Nov.  12,  18G3. 
Official  copy  : 

Ed.  a.  Palfrey, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  and  A.  A,  General. 


On  the  above  were  the  following  endorsements : 
Secretary  of  War  for  attention  and  remarks. 


J.  D. 


Respectfully  returned  to  the  President.  The  suggestion  of  Mr. 
Sparrow,  especially  in  view  of  his  position  as  chairman  of  the  Mili- 
tary Committee  of  the  Senate,  are  entitled  to  weight.  Some  grave 
inconveniences  will  certainly  result  from  the  increase  in  rank,  required 
by  the  Staff  Bill,  and  if  assurance  can  be  felt  that  the  amendment 
proposed  will  meet  the  approval  of  the  Congress  at  its  next  session, 


it  would  be  expedient  to  fill  the  positions  for  the  present  by  assign- 
ment, and  abstain  from  increasing  rank  permanently  as  proposed  by 
the  act. 

June  23,  1864.  J.  A.  SEDDON,  Secretary. 

Adjutant  General  for  future  reference,  etc.,  etc. 

June  25,  1864.  J.  O. 

File  for  future  reference,  and  keeping  the  subject  in  mind,  with  the 
understanding  that  no  action  will  be  taken  on  the  General  Staff  Bill 
of  June  14,  1864,  without  special  instructions. 

June  28,  1864.  S.  C. 

This  copy  of  original  paper,  on  file  in  this  ofiice,  is  respectfully 
submitted  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  in  connection  with  communication 
of  this  date,  in  relation  to  the  General  Staff  Act  of  June  14,  1SG4. 

S.  COOPER, 

November  15,  1864.  Adjutant  and  Inffpcctor  General. 


Adjutant  and  Inspector  General's  Office,  > 
llic/mwnd,  April  29,  1864.      \ 

General  Orders,  ) 
Ko.  44.  5 

I.  The  number  of  general  staff  officers,  and  the  grade  of  eacli,  al- 
lowed to  the  several  commands  in  the  field,  are  established  as  follows  : 

1.  To  an  army  composed  of  two  or  more  corps — A  senior  assistant 
adjutant  and  inspector  general,  and  an  assistant  adjutant  and  inspector 
general,  not  to  exceed  the  grade  of  colonel,  each  of  whom  may  have 
two  assistant  adjutant  and  inspector  generals — one  not  to  exceed  the 
grade  of  lieutenant  .colonel,  and  the  other  of  major.  One  of  the  assis- 
tants CO  the  senior  assistant  adjutant  and  inspector  general,  selected 
with  a  view  to  his  special  qualifications  for  the  duty,  will  be  charged 
with  the  examination  of  court  martial  records.  A  surgeon  as  medical 
director,  who  may  be  assisted  by  one  other  surgeon.  A  surgeon  as 
medical  inspector. 

2.  To  an  army  corps — A  senior  assistant  adjutant  and  inspector 
general,  and  an  assistant  adjutant  and  inspector  general,  not  to  exceed 
the  grade  of  lieutenant  colonel,  each  of  whom  may  have  one  assistant 
adjutant  and  inspector  general,  not  to  exceed  the  grade  of  major.  A 
surgeon  as  medical  director  and  inspector. 

3.  To  a  division — A  senior  assistant  adjutant  and  inspector  gen- 
eral, and  an  assistant  adjutant  and  inspector  general,  not  to  exceed 
the  grade  of  major.  A  surgeon  as  chief  surgeon  and  inspector,  who 
will  also  have  charge  of  the  field  infirmary. 

4.  To  a  brigade — An  assistant  adjutant  and  inspector  general,  of 
the  grade  of  captain.  A  brigade  quartermaster  and  a  brigade  com- 
missary, each  of  the  grade  of  major,  as  now  authorized  bj  law.  The 
s-enior  surgeon  will  act  as  brigade  surgeon  and  inspector,  lie  will 
also  have  charge  of  the  field  infirmary,  and  perl'orm,  at  the  same  time, 
his  duties  as  regimental  surgeon. 

5.  Each  general  officer  will  have  the  aids-de-camp  allowed  by  law — 
one  for  a  brigadier  general  and  two  for  all  other  general  officers. 

6.  Cavalry  divisions  and  brigades  may  each  have  an  assistant  adju- 
tant and  inspector  general,  not  to  exceed  the  grade  of  major,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  number  allowed  infantry  divisions  and  brigades. 

II.  Senior  assistant  adjutant  and  inspector  generals  and  assistant 
adjutant  and  inspector  generals  may  be  required  to  alternate  their 
duties. 

III.  The  number  and  grade  of  the  preceding  general  staff  officers 
attached  to  the  headquarters  of  a  military  department,  will  be  assimi- 
lated, according  to  the  above  scale,  to  the  number  of  troops  constitut- 
ing the  military  force  in  the  department.  Special  assignments,  in 
addition,  may  be  m-ide  by  the  War  Department,  when  the  extent  of 
country  and  nature  and  scope  of  duties  may  require  it. 

IV.  The  assistant  adjutant  and  inspector  generals  will  not  be  of 
higher  grado  than  is  herein  designated.     Should  the  General  prefer  an 


officer  having  a  lower  'grade,  he  may  bo  assigned  to  duty  with   the 
command. 

V.  General  officers  will  report  to  the  Adjutant  and  Inspector  Gen- 
eral all  officers  of  the  several  staff  departments,  now  serving  in  their 
respective  commands,  and  will,  at  the  same  time,  recommend  for  reas- 
signment such  as  may  be  required  under  the  provisions  of  this  order. 

VI.  All  assigments  of  general  staff  officers  will  be  made  by  order 
from  this  office,  and  they  will  not  be  changed  except  by  like  authority. 

VII.  Commands  will  not  be  allowed  a  greater  number  of  staff  offi- 
cers than  is  herein  established  ;  nor  will  officers  of  the  line  be  assigned 
to  staff  duty  without  special  authority.  Should  it  be  deemed  insuffi- 
cient for  the  transmission  of  orders  on  the  battle-field,  couriers  and 
guides  (authorized  in  General  Orders,  No.  17,  last  scries)  will  be  em- 
ployed by  general  officers,  who  will  announce  them  in  orders  as  per- 
sons accredited  to  convey  their  instructions  and  other  communications. 

VIII.  Vacancies  will  be  filled  by  selection  from  the  officers  of  the 
department  in  which  they  occur. 

IX.  These  orders  being  confined  to  the  general  staff  proper,  the 
organization  of  the  other  departments  will  not  be  effected  by  them. 

X.  Promotions  in  the  general  staff  of  the  army  will  be  by  selection 
and  not  by  seniority,  except  in  cases  of  known  conipetency  for  higher 
grade. 

By  order. 

S.  COOPER, 
Aifjutani  and  Insprdor  General. 


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